Device for transferring knitted fabrics



Sept. 22, 1925 L. N, DLWILLIAMS. DEVICE FORTRANSFERRI RG KNITTED FABRICS mud Mai 10 1923' 2 -Sheets$heet 1 A 7 J a INVENTOR: n Louis 12? D. Williams, BY 6.411% ATTORNEYS.

Sept; 22, 1925. 1,554,248

a y L. N.'D. WILLIAMS DEVICE. FOR TRANSFERR'I-HG KNITTED FABRICS Filed May '10. 192 3 ZSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Louis 1Y1). Willzams,

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESS Patented Sept. 2%, 1925 I UNITED STATES v 1,554,248 PATENT OFFICE.

- LOUIS N. n; winnrms, or oeonrz, rmmsxnvanm,

nmncn roarmnsrnanme xmr'rnn FABRICS.

Application filed May 10,

' following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to devices useful in transferring knitted fabrics from one knitting machine to another. Such a step is practised for example in the manufacture of half hose, wherein ribbed tops are removed from the producing machine, and hereinafter applied to the needles of a footer designed to knit stocking ankles and feet in inte al prolongation. In this operation, as

the abrie stitches or loops are moved down:

, wardly alon the needle shanks and slipped over the en s of the open latches, their inherent tension is likely to induce asnap action upon the latches often causing them to fly upwardly to close position. Consequently therefore upon the starting of the machine, such needles, due to latch closure, fail to take new yarn with the result that imperfections appear in the fabric such as ordinarily referred to as drop stitches.

The main object of my present invention is to avoid the contingency just referred to, and this desideratum I attain by provision of a transfer device which is characterized by aguard adapted, at the critical period,

.to arrest the induced swing of the needle latches and thereby insure presentation of open hooks as the needles are advanced to take new yarn when knitting is resumed.

Other objects and attendant advantages will become readily apparent fromv the detailed description of a number of difl'erent forms in which my invention may be embodied. The appended claims clearly define the scope of my invention as at present known to me.

In the drawings, Figure I is a sectional elevation of a transfer device conveniently embodying my invention and showing the manner in which the same is applied to the needles of a knitting machine.

Figure II is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure I showing how thefabric stitches or loops are stripped from the quills of the transfer device and advanced to a position below the free ends of the needle latches. v 3 p 1923i Serial No. 837,954.

Figure III isa detail fragmentary section taken as indicated by thearrows III- III in'Figure II.

Figure'IV is a perspective illustration of one of the stripper bits'by which the fabric stitches or loops are advanced as above noted.

Figure V is a view similar to Figure II, showing a modified form of my invention.

Figure VI is a detail fragmentary section taken 'as indicated by the arrows VI, VI in Figure V; and 1 v Figure VII is a perspective illustration of the type of stripper bit adapted for use in connection with the modification of Figure V.

drawings, my improved transfer device is therein comprehensively indicated by the numeral 1 and shown as applied to the knitting head2 of a standard type of circular knittin machine whose needles 3 are appropriatey guided for vertical reciprocation in the known manner in the slots of a cylinder 4. Said needles have associated with them Referring first to Figures I and II ofthe the usual web holders 5 which are in turn g uidedfor horizontal reciprocation in a dial plate 6 attached to'the top of the c linder 4. The manner of cooperation o stitch forming instrumentalities is well known in the knitting arts and need not therefore b further described herein.

Coming now to a detailed examination of .the transfer device 1, which, per se, forms the subject of this application, it wlll be observed that the same is shown as consisting of an annular member 10 preferably of cylindrical formation from one end of whlch project a series of depending quills 11; and

convergence of'the series for a purpose hereinafter explained, and are held in spaced relation in a radially slotted annulus 14 wherewith cooperates a wedge ring 15, to clamp. the quills firmly in place in the member 10. The ring 15 has threaded engage-- ment with the main section 16 of the quill holder member 10 as indicated at 17 in Figures I and II. The quills 11, it will be furthe! noted, are, channelled or fluted throughthese transfer device.

The stripper bits 13 whereof one is shown in perspective in Figure IV, are preferably made as elongated stampings of compara-' tively thin sheet metal, each having a butt or nib 20 at its upper end, and at its lower end, a horizontally disposed foot 21 which terminates in a laterally bent projection 22. These stripper bits are accommodated in longitudinal slots of the movable member 12 of the transfer revice and held from vertical displacement by virtue of the engagement of their butts 20 within a circumferential recess or groove 23 of said member. Relative movement of the members 10 and 12 of the transfer device is restricted by slots 25 in the one, within which are guided screw studs 26 projecting at opposite points from the other. As a means for facilitating shifting of the members 10, 12, I provide them respectively with diametral bars 27, 28 which are preferably disposed in parallelism as shown and may beeither manually or mechanically actuated. When the stripper bits 13 are assembled in the structure, it

will be particularly noted that the foot portions 21 project radially outwardly between the quills 11 while their laterally bent projections 22 collectively form (see Figure III) a continuous ring or annulus which, when the stripper member 12 is lowered as in Figure II, constitutes a guard or barrier across the front of the needles for a purpose that will become apparent presently.

In operation, the transfer device with the fabric F thereon, is placed upon the head of the knitting machine as shown in Figure I, care being taken that the needles are individually engaged in the hollows of the quills 11. The convergency of the quills will, it will be seen, greatly assist in this initial step, the needles at first yielding to slight outward fiexure as the quills engage them andfinally supporting the device at the desired level. The member 12 is thereupon depressed, as a consequence of which the fabric stitches or loops 8, previously held by the quills, are, as shown in Figure II, shifted downward along the shanks of the needles by the feet 21 of the stripper bits. The extent of motion imparted is such that the stitches or loops 8 arebrought to a level directly below the free ends of the needle latches. If, as very often happens, the needle latches are induced to swing upwardly as the tensioned loops of the fabric slip over and off their ends, the laterally bent projections 22 of the stripper bits immediately arrest such swing and preventthe latches from closing the needle hooks. Thus when the empty transfer device is finally removed, the needles are all left with their latches open. By reason of this preparation, knitting can be safely resumed without the possibility of stitch dropping, thereby predetermining a perfect union or juncture between the transferred fabric and the prolongation which is to be appended to it.

Referring now to Figures V, VI and VII, the modification there shown is identical with the first described embodiment of my invention except that in lieu of the latch guard formed by the laterally turned projections 22 of the stripper bits, I em loy a ring 30 of comparatively stout wire or the like capable of being sprung for retainment into notches 31 formed in the ends of the feet 21 of the alternative form of. stripper bits illustrated in perspective in Figure VII. The operation of the modified embodiment just detailed is in all respects identical to that of the previous form of my invention and, its repetition will, for the sake of brevity, therefore be dispensed with.

1Having thus described my invention, I c aim:

1. A device for transferring knitted fabthe quills and onto the needles, and means i for preventing closure of the needle latches as the tensioned stitches or loops slip over and off the free ends of the latches in being advanced along the needle shanks.

3. Adevice for transferring knitted fabrics to the needles of a knitting machine comprising a series of quills, stripper means for shifting the fabric stitches or loops from the quills and onto the needles, and means movable with said stripper means for reventing latch closure as the tensioned fabric loops slip off the free ends of the. latches in being advanced along the needle shanks.

l. A device for transferring knitted fabrics to the needles of a knitting machine comprising a series of quills, stripper means projecting between the quills adapted to shift the fabric stitches onto the needles,

said' stripper means having lateral projecprojecting between the quills adapted to shift the fabric stitches 'onto the needles, said stripper means affording a continuous barrier at thefront of the needles for re venting upward swinging of the needle latches as the tensioned fabric loops or stitches slip over and off the free ends ofthe latches in being advanced along the needle shanks.

I 6. A device for transferring knitted fabrics to the needles of a circular knitting machine comprising an annular series of quills,

stripper means extending radially outward "onto the needles, and a guard extending about the protruding ends of said stripper for preventing latch closure as the tensioned fabric loops or stitchesslip over and off the free ends of the latches in being advanced along the needle shanks.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 7th day of May 1923.--

a LOUIS n. WILLIAMS. 

